annotate www/about.html @ 896:79855f5dc085

Web page tweaks.
author Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
date Fri, 10 May 2013 18:54:14 -0500
parents 0db28494d17d
children 56a20120a34f
Ignore whitespace changes - Everywhere: Within whitespace: At end of lines:
rev   line source
365
8f0b24cc7cd7 Minor web page updates (put header/footer back, add a few <hr> tags).
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 360
diff changeset
1 <!--#include file="header.html" -->
8f0b24cc7cd7 Minor web page updates (put header/footer back, add a few <hr> tags).
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 360
diff changeset
2
652
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
3 <h1>Answers to <a href="#what">What</a>, <a href="#why">Why</a>,
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
4 <a href="#who">Who</a>, <a href="#how">How</a>, <a href="#when">when</a></h1>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
5
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
6 <h2><a name="what" />What is ToyBox?</h2>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
7
896
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
8 <p>Toybox provides simple, small, fast, and correct implementations of all the
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
9 standard Linux command line utilities.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
10
896
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
11 <p>Toybox should scale from tiny embedded systems up to general purpose
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
12 development environments. We test using it on Android phones in place of
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
13 Toolbox, and the <a href=/aboriginal>Aboriginal Linux</a> project is working
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
14 to get a complete Linux system to rebuild itself from source code using
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
15 toybox.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
16
896
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
17 <p>Toybox is released under what's been nicknamed a <a href=license.html>"zero
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
18 clause BSD" license</a>, essentially public domain with a liability
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
19 disclaimer.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
20
896
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
21 <p>Toybox can be built as a single multicall ("swiss army knife") executable,
79855f5dc085 Web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 805
diff changeset
22 or each command can be built as a traditional independent executable.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
23
652
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
24 <b><h2><a name="status" />What commands are implemented in Toybox?</h2></b>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
25
652
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
26 <p>The current list of commands implemented by toybox is on the
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
27 <a href=status.html>status page</a>, which is updated each release.
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
28 There is also <a href=roadmap.html>roadmap</a> of planned commands for the
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
29 1.0 release.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
30
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
31 <p>In general, configuring toybox for "defconfig" enables all the commands
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
32 compete enough to be useful. Configuring "allyesconfig" enables partially
652
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
33 implemented commands as well, along with debugging features.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
34
410
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
35 <p>Several toybox commands can do things other vesions can't. For example
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
36 the toybox "df" isn't confused by initramfs the way other df implementations
652
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
37 are. (If initramfs is visible, df shows it like any other mount point.)</p>
230
5c03ba9e3924 Web page tweak.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 228
diff changeset
38
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
39 <b><h3>Command Shell</h3></b>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
40 <p>The Toybox Shell (toysh) aims to be a reasonable bash replacement. It
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
41 implements the "sh" and "toysh" commands, plus the built-in commands "cd" and
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
42 "exit". This is the largest single sub-project in toybox.</p>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
43
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
44 <p>The following additional commands may be built into the shell (but not as
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
45 separate executables): cd, exit, if, while, for, function, fg, bg, jobs, source,
410
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
46 <a href="http://opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/alias.html">alias</a>,
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
47 export, set, unset, read, trap, and exec. (Note: not done yet.)</p>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
48
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
49 </ul>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
50
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
51 <h2><a name="commands" />Which commands are planned?</h2>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
52
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
53 <p>The toybox <a href=todo.txt>todo list</a> mentions many potential commands
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
54 which may be added to this project. (Whether that file is readable by anybody
410
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
55 but the project's maintainer is open to debate.) The roadmap wiki in the
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
56 nav bar has a more human readable version.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
57
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
58 <p>The criteria for a toybox 1.0 release is that a system built from just the
410
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
59 Linux kernel, toybox, C library (such as uClibc), and a compiler (such as
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
60 tinycc) can rebuild itself from source code.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
61
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
62 <b><h3>Relevant Standards</h3></b>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
63
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
64 <p>Most commands are implemented according to
410
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
65 <a href=http://opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/idx/utilities.html>The
805
0db28494d17d Accumulated web page changes. (Release announcement for previous release, roadmap updates, etc.)
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 652
diff changeset
66 Single Unix Specification version 4</a> where applicable. This does not mean
0db28494d17d Accumulated web page changes. (Release announcement for previous release, roadmap updates, etc.)
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 652
diff changeset
67 that Toybox is implementing every SUSv4 utility: some such as SCCS and ed are
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
68 obsolete, while others such as c99 are outside the scope of the project.
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
69 Toybox also isn't implementing full internationalization support: it should be
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
70 8-bit clean and handle UTF-8, but otherwise we leave this to X11 and higher
805
0db28494d17d Accumulated web page changes. (Release announcement for previous release, roadmap updates, etc.)
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 652
diff changeset
71 layers. And some things (like $CDPATH support in "cd") await a good
0db28494d17d Accumulated web page changes. (Release announcement for previous release, roadmap updates, etc.)
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 652
diff changeset
72 explanation of why to bother with them. (The standard provides an important
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
73 frame of reference, but is not infallable set of commandments to be blindly
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
74 obeyed.)</p>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
75
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
76 <p>The other major sources of commands are the Linux man pages, and testing
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
77 the behavior of existing commands (although not generally looking at their
805
0db28494d17d Accumulated web page changes. (Release announcement for previous release, roadmap updates, etc.)
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 652
diff changeset
78 source code), including the commands in Android's toolbox. SUSv4 does not
410
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
79 include many basic commands such as "mount", "init", and "mke2fs", which are
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
80 kind of nice to have.</p>
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
81
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
82 <b><h2><a name="downloads" />Download</h2></b>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
83
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
84 <p>This project is maintained as a mercurial archive. To get a copy of the
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
85 current development version, either use mercurial (hg clone
425
312b8acb65aa Fix bad link that was confusing people. (Oops.)
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 410
diff changeset
86 http://landley.net/hg/toybox) or click on one of the zip/gz/bz2 links
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
87 at the top of the <a href=/hg/toybox>mercurial archive browser</a> page to get
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
88 an archive of the appropriate version. Click
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
89 <a href="/hg/toybox?cmd=tags">tags</a> to see all the tagged release
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
90 versions ("tip" is the current development version).</p>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
91
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
92 <p>The maintainer's <a href=/notes.html>development log</a> and the project's
410
3d87f15f4c60 Add wiki link and make about less stale.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 385
diff changeset
93 <a href=http://lists.landley.net/listinfo.cgi/toybox-landley.net>mailing
226
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
94 list</a> are also good ways to track what's going on with the project.</p>
6aac63925eff Update web pages.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents:
diff changeset
95
652
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
96 <!--
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
97 <b><h2><a name="why">Why do toybox?</h2></b>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
98
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
99 <p>Because smart phones are replacing the PC, and Android must become
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
100 self-hosting to beat the iPhone in establishing the new standard.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
101
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
102 <p>This is the third such major transition in computer history:
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
103 (mainframe-&gt;minicomputer-&gt;microcomputer-&gt;smartphone).
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
104 The mainframe was replaced by the minicomputer, which was replaced by
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
105 the microcomputer (renamed the "personal" computer to make clear you could
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
106 access porn through it), which is being replaced by the smartphone. Nobody
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
107 needed to wait for printouts from a big computer in another building when they
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
108 could use a little one down the hall. Then nobody needed the big computer
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
109 down the hall when they had a little one on their desk. Now nobody needs the
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
110 big computer on their desk when they have a little one in their pocket.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
111
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
112 <p>The new platform displaces the old when it becomes natively self hosting.
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
113 Often they leverage existing technology: just as early microcmputers used
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
114 teletypes and televisions for output, phones can use
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
115 <a href=http://us.toshiba.com/accessory/PA3575U-1PRP>USB docking stations</a>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
116 to access a bigger screen, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc. Plugging a phone into
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
117 USB even charges the battery. But to use the phone as a development
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
118 workstation, it needs more software, such as a Posix command line, a native
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
119 compiler, and drivers for the USB peripherals.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
120
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
121 <p>The new platform also eventually weans itself off of its dominant language.
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
122 Dalvik is to Android what ROM Basic was to the PC: something it must
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
123 eventually outgrow. Thus toybox is native C code, not Java.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
124
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
125 <b><h3>So why aren't self-hosting smartphones attracting more attention?</h3></b>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
126
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
127 <p>Because most people are focusing on the legacy platforms, not on the new
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
128 stuff. Existing multi-billion dollar industries are getting evicted from their
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
129 decades-old established niche, and are trying to spin the transition as an
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
130 opportunity instead of a forced march onto reservations. When elephants run
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
131 from mice, it's easier to notice the elephants.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
132
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
133 <p>History's our guide here: the previous technology always gets kicked up into
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
134 the "server space", moving from "the thing you stood in front of waiting for
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
135 your printout" to "that thing you sometimes accessed remotely via the new
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
136 computer". This time around they're calling it "the cloud" and pretending it's
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
137 a big deal; it's really just a beowulf cluster with a layer of
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
138 virtualization/containerization software implementing hotplug hardware and
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
139 live migration to provide cheap
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
140 commodity processing power that dominant players (like amazon) literally
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
141 give away for free. These old machines become secondary, only
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
142 accessed through the new machines users now directly interact with.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
143
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
144 <p>Since there's only one server space, the mainframe ate the minicomputer in
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
145 the 1980's (when DEC went under), and this time around "the cloud" seems to be
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
146 eating the mainframe (IBM ain't happy). The inevitable consolidation leads
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
147 to drama, but doesn't mean much in the long run.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
148
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
149 <p><a href=http://landley.net/notes-2012.html#12-07-2012>For more
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
150 on this topic...</a></p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
151
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
152 <b><h3><a name="why_android">Why is Android important?</h2></b>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
153
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
154 <p>Major hardware transitions introduce
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
155 <a href=http://landley.net/notes-2011.html#26-06-2011>new software
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
156 standards</a> which are extremely sticky once
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
157 established, due to network effects.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
158
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
159 <p>Last time around, the PC was stuck with
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
160 a proprietary operating system (DOS/Windows) which is still dominant on that
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
161 hardware platform's descendants 30 years later. This time around, the choice
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
162 is between Android (a Linux derivative) and iPhone (a closed BSD fork ala
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
163 SunOS, put out by a company already engaged in multiple aggressive IP lawsuits).
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
164 The main difference between Apple and Microsoft is that Apple is competent.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
165
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
166 <p>And yes, it has to be Android, it won't be vanilla Linux any time soon,
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
167 for three reasons. 1) <a href=http://landley.net/notes-2010.html#13-08-2010>Open
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
168 Source can't do user interfaces</a> for about the same reason wikipedia can't
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
169 write a novel, 2) it's too late to the
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
170 party (a 5 year headstart is forever in computers), 3) preinstalls matter
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
171 (GPLv3 spooked all the hardware vendors, Android has a "no GPL in
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
172 userspace" policy which is rigidly enforced).</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
173
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
174 <p>And "any time soon" is important: attempting to displace an existing
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
175 entrenched de-facto standard is what linux has spent the last 20
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
176 years trying (and failing) to do on the desktop. Spending another 20
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
177 years fighting for less than 1% of the phone market would just be sad.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
178
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
179 <b><h3><a name="how_google">How is Google less evil than Apple?</h3></b>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
180
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
181 <p>Because Android isn't Google's core business, attaching advertising to large
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
182 scale data searches is. Android and Chrome and such are Google's way of
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
183 "commoditizing their co-factors" to drive down the price of ingredients
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
184 to their core business.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
185
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
186 <p>Thus Google is pursuing a commodity market and encouring as many vendors as
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
187 possible to participate, not to control the new space but to hold it open,
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
188 so that its search products are widely available without requiring the
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
189 permission of some other monopoly gatekeeper. Apple is attemping to corner the
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
190 smartphone market and extract monopoly rents, excluding all
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
191 vendors except itself.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
192
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
193 <p>So if Google wins we get a commodity market in smartphone/tablet software,
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
194 and may be able to open it further in future. If Apple wins we get a proprietary
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
195 smartphone/tablet OS with a single monopoly vendor, which is likely to close it
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
196 further.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
197
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
198 <b><h3>Why not just use BusyBox?</h3></b>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
199
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
200 <p>Android can't. Busybox predates android
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
201 by many years; if they were ever going to ship it they'd have done so by
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
202 now. Android has had a "No GPL in Userspace" policy ever since GPLv3
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
203 came out (before the first Android phone shipped), and they mean it.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
204
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
205 <p>Toybox also has a better design and simpler code. I did both
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
206 and this is the one I enjoy banging on; I tried to contribute a few things
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
207 to busybox and it was like crawling through a thornbush of #ifdefs. Busybox
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
208 development is just no fun anymore.</p>
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
209
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
210 -->
2d7c56913fda Some dubious asides, currently commented out.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 425
diff changeset
211
360
f7780b485e6f Remove header/footer includes to prepare for css instead.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 230
diff changeset
212 <b><h2><a name="toycans" />What's the toybox logo image?</h2></b>
227
60cfaaeb4c4e More web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 226
diff changeset
213
60cfaaeb4c4e More web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 226
diff changeset
214 <p>It's <a href=toycans-big.jpg>carefully stacked soda cans</a>. Specifically,
60cfaaeb4c4e More web page tweaks.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 226
diff changeset
215 it's a bunch of the original "Coke Zero" and "Pepsi One" cans, circa 2006,
228
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
216 stacked to spell out the binary values of the ascii string "Toybox", with
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
217 null terminator at the bottom. (The big picture's on it's side because
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
218 the camera was held sideways to get a better shot.)</p>
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
219
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
220 <p>No, it's not photoshopped, I actually had these cans until a coworker
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
221 who Totally Did Not Get It <sup><font size=-3><a href=http://www.timesys.com>tm</a></font></sup> threw them out one day after I'd gone home,
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
222 thinking they were recycling. (I still have two of each kind, but
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
223 Pepsi One seems discontinued and Coke Zero switched its can color
90f763207f56 Fluffier web page.
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 227
diff changeset
224 from black to grey, presumably in celebration. It was fun while it lasted...)</p>
365
8f0b24cc7cd7 Minor web page updates (put header/footer back, add a few <hr> tags).
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 360
diff changeset
225
8f0b24cc7cd7 Minor web page updates (put header/footer back, add a few <hr> tags).
Rob Landley <rob@landley.net>
parents: 360
diff changeset
226 <!--#include file="footer.html" -->